Huge Numbers for Club Spins on Sunday 15th January

I thought I would be well used to seeing so many Wheelers in the one area by now but I was in total amazement when I looked up from the back of the O.R.S car park, there must have been close to a hundred cyclists in attendance. It really is an incredible sight to see so many people out early in the morning getting ready to part-take in the best sport in the world!

I remember in my younger days when I used to spend most of my summer holidays in my Grandparents house in Kilcock and one of the highlights of my stays was our Sunday "mystery tours". These were when my Grandfather used to take us out for a drive in the car across various roads around Kildare & Wicklow and almost every time we would get lost, well today (Sunday 15th) was my first mystery tour in almost twenty years!! All in all today we took in over 105km & over 800 meters of climbing crossing through four counties Westmeath, Longford, Cavan and Meath. Here's the account of the A & B Group spins, provided by Mark Horohoe and Eamon Hogan respectively...

"A" Group Suffers in Silence

Fantastic cycling conditions today saw another great turnout in the A group on Sunday 15th January. This was week 2 of Base 3 training in the A group and the plan was to step it up another small step in terms of hilly terrain. We had planned out a 105km spin with two good hills in Oldcastle, however the constant rolling hills resulted in a spin that felt like 150km.

With 23 riders checking in for duty we divided into 2 groups. Robbie and Mark Monaghan lead one group and I took the other. It was great to see two groups of riders just a km apart until the tea stop. We tried a new route which started along the familiar Multyfarnham, Coole and heading for Granard. Then in the village of Abbeylara we turned right which took us over a few good short climbs before we started to circle Lough Sheelin passing through Lavagh and stopping in Mount Nugent for Maxwell House.

After the stop we continued in two groups to Oldacastle and where we ascended the first "real" climb of the day. Then we had a few km of respite to get the legs recovered and ready for the ascent of Lough Crew but this week we went up the shorter but steeper route which seen a few riders testing out how well cycling shoes are to walk in! We returned home through Dromone, Collinstown and Crookedwood with all dreaming of dinner. We even managed to cover 4 counties today hitting Longford, Cavan, Meath and Westmeath. Well done to all riders today on completing a tough spin, maybe even a bit tougher than we expected or planned! Today’s route: http://www.mapmyride.com/routes/view/64094734/

B Group Racking Up the Miles

When I looked at the weather forecast for the Sunday morning spin, I knew the "B" group would be large and wow was I right. With a head count of approximately 55, we again split into three groups. We headed for Coralstown via Newdown to avoid the roadworks on the N4, maybe a bit too narrow of a road for the size of the groups, but hopefully we didn’t hold up too many people. Then it was onto the open road of the N4 to Enfield, turning for Edenderry via Carbury.

When the so called faster B group landed for tea in Edenderry, the group led by \roibeard O’Ceallaigh were already feed and watered and were ready to set off again. I think local knowledge of the road network was at work!! After the tea stop it was decided to head for Rhode up a hill locally called "Fatty Hill". Turning at Rhode for Rochfortbridge with the wind on our backs the average speed went up to between 35Kph to 40Kph and was kept at that speed until we arrived back at the ORS. With 100Km done, yes lads another 100Km spin, not bad for only the second week in January. Quite big a spin at this stage of the season, I admit, but who could blame us with this perfect cycling weather.